Recruiters rally behind Bello

Bello believes someone who wants him out of the Department is behind the new corruption allegation against him.

Licensed recruitment and manpower agencies threw their support behind Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III amid accusations that he took bribes from a recruiter.

The group of recruiters called CLAD said in a statement that it believes in the integrity and leadership of Bello, who had denied receiving cash and gifts from a recruitment agency owner in exchange for favors like the approval of a license.

“We abhor corrupt practices both in government and the private sector and do not tolerate the practice of bribing government officials and employees in exchange for personal favors,” CLAD said in the statement read during a press conference at the Aloha Hotel in Manila on Monday.

Bello’s accuser, Amanda Araneta, claimed that the secretary received more than P100,000 cash gift and a smartphone from her and later demanded P10 million to P15 million for the approval of her license.

Bello said he never accepted the gift and denied ordering anyone to accept bribes.

Bello believes someone who wants him out of the Department is behind the new corruption allegation against him.

DoLE Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, who had a falling out with Bello, had denied having a hand in the corruption allegations against the secretary.

“I am not [involved]. I strongly deny that. I don’t even know who these complainants are,” Paras said in one interview.

Meanwhile, DoLE Assistant Secretary Joji Aragon pleaded with Bello’s accuser to file the graft case in court and called the allegations a “malicious attempt to discredit” Bello.

“There is no valid, solid basis or legal basis. Hopefully, they will show evidence and file the appropriate case with the appropriate authority, the good offices which are in the court,” Aragon told reporters at a forum on Monday.

Araneta filed graft charges against Bello on Wednesday accusing the secretary of receiving P100,000 and a cellphone from her in December 2016 and that he demanded P500,000 to resolve her agency’s case.

DoLE canceled the license of Araneta’s recruitment agency, MMML Recruitment Services Inc., for allegedly being involved in trafficking of minors.

“We guarantee that in the course of our working with the secretary, we can vouch for his integrity and honesty. I believe that the manifesto can attest to it.” Aragon said.

The assistant secretary spoke on behalf of Bello, who is currently recovering from a minor eye surgery.

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